Lorillard, led by Chief Executive Officer Martin Orlowsky, increased Newport's share of U.S. smokers to 9.85 percent in the first quarter, up 0.3 percentage point from a year earlier. (Newport sales are strongest in the eastern part of the U.S.)Menthol cigarettes including Altria Group Inc.'s Marlboro and Reynolds's Kool accounted for 28.4 percent of the U.S. cigarette market, Orlowsky told analysts April 28, 2008. Lorillard shipped 7.65 billion Newport cigarettes in the first quarter, 1 percent less than a year earlier. Total U.S. cigarette shipments dropped faster, falling 3.3 percent, Orlowsky said. Reference: Lorillard May Be Takeover Target After Spinoff., by Chris Burritt, Bloomberg.com, 6/4/2008. More on Menthol and Tobacco Smoking. (TobaccoWatch.org)